Calls by the Center for Public Integrity to Kentuckians for Strong Leadership and a former Perry spokesman went unreturned.

But several hours later, Kentuckians for Strong Leadership filed an amendment indicating Perry had not donated from beyond the grave, instead given the money on April 12, the day before he died.

Just weeks before his death, Perry also contributed $2 million to Texans for a Conservative Majority and $1 million to Senate Conservatives Action, a super PAC with ties to former Sen. Jim DeMint, new Federal Election Commission filings show.

In limited instances, people who’ve died may still make political contributions, according to federal law.

A person may, for example, establish a trust and direct that certain amounts of money be used for political purposes following his or her death.

Primary Source dove into developments in the post-Citizens United world of money in politics. It featured original, entrepreneurial reporting by Center staff, as well as examinations of primary source documents.